Mercedes Ruehl News

In this week's School in the Spotlight, we feature the Theatre Department of Brandeis University in Waltham, MA! Read about their programs below and scroll down to see photos from the 2012-2013 production season!

Deadline reports that Anthony LaPaglia is 'finalizing a deal' to lead the cast of an upcoming drama pilot for the FOX network titled BOOMERANG.

Ryan Murphy has revealed that Lily Rabe has signed on again for the upcoming third season of the FX anthology series, AMERICAN HORROR STORY.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director), Barry Grove (Executive Producer), and Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) just announced the 2012 recipients of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Initiative commissions for Manhattan Theatre Club. This year's six commissioned writers are April de Angelis (Jumpy), Nick Jones (The Coward), Heidi Schreck (Creature), Melissa Ross (Thinner Than Water), Sarah Treem (A Feminine Ending), and Bess Wohl (Barcelona).

From tonight, September 27 through October 21, The Nora Theatre Company will proudly present the New England Premiere of Sarah Treem's THE HOW AND THE WHY at Central Square Theater. The Press Performance is Monday, October 1 at 7:30PM.

From September 27 through October 21, The Nora Theatre Company will proudly present the New England Premiere of Sarah Treem's THE HOW AND THE WHY at Central Square Theater. The Press Performance is Monday, October 1 at 7:30PM.

Bay Street Theatre showed the Hamptons a fantastic party last Saturday, July 21, 2012 at its annual Rock The Dock Summer Benefit Bash. The evening kicked off with a cocktail hour and silent auction, while guests arrived dressed to party on the Long Wharf in Sag Harbor. Special guests included Bay Street Board Members Chris Bauer (True Blood) and Broadway, film and television actress Mercedes Ruehl; Tony Award winner and star of the upcoming BIG MAYBELLE: SOUL OF THE BLUES Lillias White, and the show's writer and director Paul Levine, and more. Scroll down for photos from the event!

Bay Street Theatre presents the second production of its 2012 Mainstage Season, MEN'S LIVES, which opened officially last Saturday evening, July 7, 2012. The play was written by Joe Pintauro; based on the book by Peter Matthiessen; directed by Harris Yulin. The show runs through Sunday, July 29. Check out photos from opening night below!

Bay Street Theatre is busy planning for the annual ROCK THE DOCK! SUMMER BENEFIT BASH on Saturday, July 21 with the water view location on the Long Wharf in Sag Harbor. Tickets are available online at www.baystreet.org or by calling Jessica Lemire at 631-725-0818 ext. 129.

The official opening night for Polly Draper in MY BRILLIANT DIVORCE, took place last Saturday night at Bay Street Theatre. Geraldine Aron, the playwright for this American Premiere attended the after party in the lobby along with other theatre veterans including Blythe Danner, TEd Hartley and Dina Merrill, John McDaniel, Terrence McNally, Joe Pintauro, Mercedes Ruehl, Sloan Shelton, and Harris Yulin. The show runs now through Sunday, June 24. The production is directed by Matt McGrath, one of Bay Street Theatre's Artistic Associates.

On Monday night, April 16, 2012, The Point Foundation honored Edward Albee and Focus Features at their fifth annual New York Gala. BroadwayWorld.com was on hand at Pier Sixty to capture the event honoring current and future champions of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre (Scott Alan Evans, Cynthia Harris and Jenn Thompson, Co-Artistic Directors), the critically-acclaimed Off-Broadway company "dedicated to presenting neglected or rarely produced plays of literary merit," announced today that due to a demand for tickets, two weekday matinee performances (Wednesday, April 4 & 11 at 2pm), have been added for Lost in Yonkers, the final production of the company's 2011/12 season. Directed by TACT Co-Artistic Director Jenn Thompson, performances began at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) on Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 and the enjoyed an official opening night on Thursday, March 22nd. Performances will continue through Saturday, April 14th.

David Eisner and Avery Saltzman, Co-Artistic Directors of the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company (HGJTC), present Neil Simon's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play LOST IN YONKERS starring Marion Ross ('Happy Days'), at the Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, from May 12 - June 10, 2012.

Deadline.com reports that Tony Award winning actress Mercedes Ruehl has joined the cast of the upcoming Fox comedy pilot EL JEFE.

HUNGER: IN BED WITH ROY COHN is a world premiere fantasy play by Joan Beber about Roy Cohn, the attorney whose hunger for power and prominence ultimately destroyed him.

59E59 Theaters will welcome The Directors Company in association with New Jersey Repertory Company with the New York City premiere of POETIC LICENSE, written by Jack Canfora and directed by Evan Bergman.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, actor Bill Pullman is set to portray the President in the upcoming NBC comedy pilot 1600 PENN.